Golden Monkeys are beautiful unique primates found on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes which are shared between Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. In Uganda, golden monkey trekking is done in Mgahinga gorilla national park in south-western Uganda.

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the most amazing activities one can do while in the park for a primate safari. Golden monkeys are an endangered species with 3000-4000 individuals still left in the world. They have a number of colors on like black, grey and a beautiful shade of orange-gold that has them being called golden monkeys. They live in large groups of up to 100 individuals led by an Alpha male and do not move as much for they stay in one location for a time, unlike the gorillas. Golden monkeys feed on bamboo leaves, seasonal fruits, flowers, sprouts, leaves, lichens, and small invertebrates all that are abundant in the forest.

Golden monkeys live in bamboo forested areas and they can only be found in Virunga Volcanoes which Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies. Golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley, and they share their home with the equally endangered mountain gorillas. The park is located in the south-western part of Uganda in the district of Kisoro. It is in Mgahinga National Park that one can do golden monkey tracking in Uganda.

Golden monkey trekking is an active tour compared to Chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking in certain instances because it is done in the mountainous area and they are continuously moving which requires you to follow them, they are small and fast in their movements. They prefer to rummage through the bamboo sections of the forest because eating the young bamboo shoots.

The golden monkey trekking starts early morning with briefing at 7 am at the park headquarters before trekkers can start the trip into the park. You spend an hour with the golden monkeys after spotting them. The trekking generally takes about 3-4 hours depending on where they nested the previous night and how far it is from the starting point.

You will obtain a golden monkey trekking permit in advance from your tour agency, specify the date for which you would like to trek the golden monkeys.